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Driving Impressions
The Cadillac SRX boasts a superb balance between a smooth ride and responsive handling. It's much more nimble than any truck-based SUV. We loved its smooth, extremely quiet ride and spirited handling while driving it on twisting mountain roads in Arizona. The SRX is built on the same platform (called Sigma) as the Cadillac CTS and STS, which are couple of the best handling sedans to come out of Detroit in a long time. This platform provides a solid, flex-free foundation that allows the suspension to do its job. Throw in a much lower center of gravity than the typical SUV and near perfect front-rear weight distribution, and you have a utility vehicle that's fun to drive at a good clip.
The 4.6-liter V8 delivers lots of power. Cadillac's Northstar V8 is rated at 320 horsepower and 315 pound-feet of torque. With the V8, the SRX can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds (6.9 seconds for the heavier all-wheel-drive version), according to Cadillac. The SRX V8 never disappointed us on mountain roads in Arizona, and always had plenty of smooth power in reserve. The Northstar is the sort of engine that makes you want to floor the accelerator just to feel the thrust as speed builds, though succumbing to this may affect your fuel economy. If you want to tow a boat, get the V8. It's rated to pull 4,250 pounds.
The V6 generates 255 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque. This is a solidly powerful engine, even if it's not quite as enjoyable as the V8. Cadillac reports 0-60 mph acceleration in the low seven-second range for the V6, which is reasonably quick (as a rule of thumb, the eight-second mark separates slow from fast). No one is going to feel underpowered driving the SRX V6, and it can be equipped to tow up to 2,000 pounds, enough for personal watercraft.
The V6 delivers power through a five-speed automatic transmission, and the V8 is mated to an all-new six-speed automatic transmission for the 2007 model. Upshifts are smooth, but crisp and never mushy, and downshifts come quickly with a jab at the gas pedal. The transmissions also have a manual mode that allows the driver to do the shifting by clicking the gear lever. The SRX lets you brake and downshift going into a curve, and then power out and upshift at the exit, as in a good sports sedan.
The SRX offers good all-weather capability. Its relatively low center of gravity and long wheelbase give it better stability in terms of roll (lean) and yaw than most SUVs. It feels better planted in sloppy stuff, and the optional all-wheel drive maximizes whatever traction is available by sending engine power to the wheels with the best grip.
Active safety systems improve handling stability further: SRX comes standard with anti-lock brakes (ABS), traction control, panic Brake Assist, and dynamic rear brake proportioning (EBD). It's also available with StabiliTrak, an active handling system designed to keep the SRX under the driver's control on wet, snowy and icy surfaces, in tight turns, and in evasive maneuvers. It is enhanced with optional Magnetic Ride Control, which GM calls the world's fastest reacting suspension control system. We highly recommend StabiliTrak for its ability to help a driver you maintain control in slippery corners. ABS allows the driver to maintain steering control under hard braking. Brake Assist and dynamic rear brake proportioning improve braking performance and stability. Traction control improves stability when accelerating on slippery surfaces.
In a winter test drive in northern Michigan, the SRX performed well on ice and snow against its competitors. The SRX was the best all-around performer except for the Volvo XC90. As it began to slip or slide, the electronic aids acted as an invisible co-pilot, gently and unobtrusively nudging the SRX back on course by decreasing power when necessary or lightly applying the brakes to individual wheels whenever they started to spin.
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